Gatland defends Jones’ omission

WARREN GATLAND has delivered a blunt verdict on Ryan Jones’ omission from the Lions squad, declaring: “There is no favouritism.”

A total of 13 Wales players will feature in the Lions’ South Africa-bound tour party. But Ospreys forward Jones, who led Wales to the RBS 6 Nations title and Grand Slam a year ago, is not among them.

He joins fellow Six Nations skippers Mike Blair (Scotland) and Steve Borthwick (England) in missing out on the 10-match trip.